New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-14
LAKE GEORGE VIEWS.
SOME VARIED ASPECTS OF NATURE.
IrRoM STAFF cornrsros prSr OF TEE 1prrrxE.I

| ShoebfsIDE, Aug. e.-1he scene which spreads
before the gazcr from tho main entrance of Crosby
Side has cham the infinite variety OF which custom
cannot stale. Year after year returns to this
lovely place and hastens to refresh still vivid reco
| LOTIONS by prolonged observation Of this exquisite
outlook The framework Of lie picture Il composed
OF the stately trees upon tho sloplng lawn. Their
grccnery surrounds festoons and enaces tho spacious
doorway, through which, tho broad and shady
piazza, the eye takes In the lake. sparkling In ola
mondbright wavelcts and liquid burrows under the
gentle breezes, or perhaps lying moionless under
sapphire sky, rejecting the foliage upon its shores
shining ont In tho distance to The scmbance Of molten
| silver; bearing upon its placid bosom three little
islands overlooking with verdure TO te waters edge,
end closed In all round with the mountains which In
tho clear air show forth shapely to outline, who
| their 1anks soften and melt IA that delicate gray
blue tint which under the right atmospheric condi-
lions gives to distant hll-sdes so mellow and vel
| vety an appearance.
This is the sunny view from Crosbysde but there
| arc many others. Last Friday morning opened
| gloomily. There had been rain in tho night, and
the heavy gray clouds stu siung low. while half way
up the mountain sides the thick wito msts
cred the dark green forest and trailed away
here and there into long and ragged streamers like
tho drawn-out hecis OF discolored wool which sheep
leave upon thorny bushes In their pasturages On
such mornings the lako loses It's Brightness but not
by any means It's pcturcsquoness TIE scene Is still
harmonious. All the gay and gllttering color has
dlsappeared-the gold and azure the emerald green
and sparkling white-the fcstal character of the land
scapo has been wis drawn. Under the ieadcn sky
and lowering crhurs clouds the water takes dull
and sOmbro aspect. Tho air seems charged with
sounds which suggest humidity. The FLASHING of the
water the banks, the drip from the leaves and
boughs, seom TO DO heard with unusual dstinctress
Tho surface OF the lake has swollen. surchargcd APP
pcarance. Tho woods Save borrowed gray from the
down TO black. sense Of mystery is produced by
| the concealment OF the mountain tops. Ono feos
that something knows not what-may be pro-
cccdng beyond those heavy cloud curtains In the
twilight reccsses Of tho gloomlng wood. Nearer
at hand the grass is OF softer green the flowers put
on a freshe- yet more subdued beauty. There Is no
malice In the weather. but only removal 0f life
giving moisture At such times when the rain n g
ceased but the clouds not yet dispersed, nature
| IA full Of perfume. Subtle. delicate fragrano's,
balny, bal'amlc scents. emanatc from plants and
underground and shrubbery and trees. and, waited
gently hero ard there caprlcous aircurrents
aromatic the atmosphere And sen the clouds
part. drl,t quickly east and west and loi tho cool
north ircozo with IT. wonderful atmospheric effects
Yesterday were enclosed In 10cculent cloud
masses, vfch rested heavily upon tho hills ard dead
encd all tones and eliminated all but the soberest
tnts To-day the north wind has swept away The
investing cloud array and has expanded our horizon
mpd to an astonishing degree. The mountains at tho
foot Of tho lake have boon brought that every
outline stands out sharp and bold and IT." purple OF
their sides Il almost distinct color Where SO
mlsts yesterday covered everything, today the high
top OF Prospect Mountain llhs Itself aGgrcssivcly
and the little honsc upon tho summit IS brought
bewideringly close 10 the observer.
All the oily calm Of the past wet evening has
been blown from tho surface Of the lake. Crisp
and stocly brightness characterize the sharp
anclcd litlo waves that hurry It this morning
Tho stin breeze huns In tho ears OF those who prom
onade the dock Tho water laps and breaks with
unaocustomed energy upon the plank walk, and
occasionally entcrprisIng wavelet tries TO Initiate
sre surf at Concy Island and dashcs itself bodily
upon tic dock A fcw bold canOelsts already
avalling themselves OF tho wind and their trim and
dappcr ulc craft arc bending over at what looks
10 the unprofessonal ego pcTflous anglo, whllo the
clean, white sails round out solldly. A milo or 50
away a boat with beautiful Venetian red sail slides
into the centre OF tho lalo wis easy notion and
Instantly adds delightfully."- 10 the picturesque beauty
Of tho scene by her bit Of vivid, contrasting color
Tho red sails stand out against the deep, blue Sky
AID &c sparkling, changcable blue water, and enyon
the whole and give plquancy to It. All the grays
and blacks chased away. No suspicion Of gloom
remains in the forests on pie mountain sides Their
green masses now only rugged pleasant shade and
the soothing murmur Of wind In the tree tops, and
the musical sound Of hidden failing water and fer
cmbOwercd broOhlcts and unfrcqucntcd paths. With
this opulenco OF sunshine, this prod gaty Of color.
Sis nvl goratlng breeze this pure and lnspritng air
there IS for dark thoughts depressing con-
captions Whatever meets tho eye Is lovely, peace
full, rcstful, satisfying Infrequcny the putting of
engine In the ncighborhOod Of Caldwell reminds
that there l. another and much less agreeable
world who at stated intervals tho arrival Of fresh
relays Of passengers and mails emphasize the process
Of dlslluslonzing. But II IS easy enough to avoid
or overlook these mOmcntary Interruptions and In
congutics, and then tho mind returns wtIi renewed
eagerneSs to tho contemplation of the lake IN its vary
Ing ard various manifestations.
Young people do not to much for
nature a. they are coDventionally supposed TO do.
Lawn tennis and bowling, and billiards and rowing
engross them for the most part, ana the hrStmen-
toned game evidently eIcrts the greatest fascIna-
ton. They do not appear to be much Interested In
80 scenery. II they they keep their impress
sions very much TO themselves. u 1t that they
grow tired Of contemplation qulclIy and hat their
oxlgent muscular systems lmpcl them to active oxer-
else IL IS In tho summer evenings, when
the moon Is climbing high and re air Is soft and the
water CLASSY Just rlppcd by zephyr that the
beauties of nature appeal most strongly to the young
At such times they like 10 row on the lake in pairs,
though tue young men arc not SO fond OF going to-
gctlor nor do tho young women specially affect one
another's company. But 1t Is pleasant aud pretty
to watch the boats floating In the moonlight, while
tho sound OF voices vaguely and dreamly and
hero and there clear, fresh, young tenor or soprano
breaks Into song The FIRE flies fash and vanish
among the trees On the left tho electric lights
Of tho Fort william Henry Hotel blaze like Kohnoors
Occasionally tho lights of small steamer are seen
swiftly gliding by. Above to brow OF Prospect
Mountain the evening star shines with singular eitu
gcnce On the ground level scarce a breath surs |
but In tho tee tops the lawn a genue lusulng
bcspeaks a stronger breeze, and from the spacious
flower beds behind tho house and between tho cot
agcs arises a mlngllng of sweet and delicate odoiS
Not always Is tho lako thus peaceful, however |
WGen black thunder clouds como sailing maJestca1y
over the mountains and short, sharp puiS OF cooler
air ru0le the water aud bow the trees iii they whis
per comrlalungly a manifestation OF dIiicrent Mnd |
may be exnectcl. Hlncker and fuller gather me |